One of the Largest
Marijuana Seizures in Indiana History Announced
After Six-Month Investigation

Over five tons
of marijuana and $4.3 million in drug proceeds
seized

Part of the 10,505 lbs. of marijuana seized during this investigation.

INDIANAPOLIS, MN. – The Drug
Enforcement Administration
(DEA), the Metropolitan
Drug Task Force (Metro
Drug), and other state
and local agencies
recently arrested several
members of a suspected
drug trafficking organization
operating in the Indianapolis
area. The seizure of
over 10,000 pounds
of marijuana is the
largest drug seizure
in Marion County history
and possibly the largest marijuana drug
seizure in the state of Indiana. The $4.3
million in suspected drug proceeds seized
was believed to be destined for transportation
to Mexico.

Law enforcement collaborated with the
United States Attorney’s Office
and Marion County Prosecutor’s Office
in this six-month investigation. The bulk
value of the marijuana seized is roughly
$5 million, with the street value being
worth many times more.

“This investigation landed a combination
punch that destroyed this organization,” stated
Jack Riley, Special Agent in Charge of
the Chicago Field Division of the DEA,
which includes the state of Indiana. “The
vigorous work by the investigators thwarted
over five tons of marijuana from hitting
the streets, while the second punch denied
the foreign suppliers the proceeds from
previous drug sales.”

“The DEA and Metro Drug made history
last week,” United States Attorney
for the Southern District of Indiana Joseph
H. Hogsett said. “Not only will
taking these drugs off of the streets
have a profound direct effect on this
community, I am also proud to announce
that the millions in cash taken from the
Mexican drug lords will help fund public
safety efforts in Indianapolis and throughout
central Indiana for years to come.”

“I am pleased to sound like a broken
record – this is at least the fourth
major operation this year arising from
unprecedented federal-state cooperation
in attacking drugs and guns in Marion
County,” said Marion County Prosecutor
Terry Curry. “These successful operations
will continue to take down those who traffic
in drugs and guns in our community.”

On March 6, 2011, members of a DEA task
force and Metro Drug began an investigation
into marijuana trafficking in the Indianapolis
metropolitan area. Based on information
received by the agencies, it was believed
that illegal activities were being coordinated
out of a Mexican grocery store on the
west side of Indianapolis.

A subsequent search of a tractor trailer
observed leaving the store resulted in
the discovery and seizure of $2.6 million
in drug assets that was concealed in a
false compartment in the roof of the trailer’s
interior. This money was never claimed,
and was distributed earlier this month
to law enforcement agencies throughout
central Indiana to be utilized for law
enforcement purposes. At the time, law
enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s
Office was unable to provide details of
the seizure due to the ongoing nature
of the investigation.

On October 11, 2011, with information
obtained through the March tractor trailer
seizure and a separate traffic stop in
Arkansas that resulted in an additional
half million dollar drug proceeds seizure,
law enforcement agents in Indianapolis
were able to identify Jairo Ramirez, 26,
and began surveillance on his activities.
Ramirez was observed repeatedly meeting
with both Efren Perez, 20, and Julio Cesar
Castaneda, 36, who were similarly put
under surveillance. It was then observed
by officers that Perez and Castaneda were
frequently visiting a west side warehouse.

On the morning October 17, 2011, after
a week of around-the-clock surveillance
by DEA and Metro Drug agents, Castaneda
and Perez were again observed visiting
the west side warehouse. After they exited
the building, a K9 unit was called in
and gave an alert for the presence of
marijuana after a search of the warehouse’s
loading dock. A search warrant was issued,
and that evening DEA agents and Metro
Drug detectives entered the warehouse
through the loading dock. After entering
the warehouse, the law enforcement officers
discovered five large metal storage containers
completely filled with plastic-wrapped
packages of what was identified as marijuana.

The agents left the premises undetected
and continued surveillance on the warehouse.
Late that evening they observed a van
leave the warehouse with its lights off.
After a traffic stop, Tomas Toledo, 29,
was identified as the driver. A subsequent
search of the vehicle by officers and
a K9 unit resulted in the discovery of
600 lbs. of marijuana, and Toledo was
arrested.

Fifteen minutes later, officers and agents
from DEA, Metro Drug, and the Indianapolis
Metropolitan Police Department (“IMPD”)
located Castaneda and Perez at a nearby
hotel, and they were also taken into custody.
Roughly one hour later, members of DEA,
Metro Drug, and IMPD executed a search
warrant at the home of Ramirez, who was
similarly taken into custody. A search
of the house resulted in the recovery
of $425,000 in cash and materials referring
to the west side warehouse.

At approximately 4 a.m. on October 18,
2011, law enforcement officers executed
a second search warrant on the west side
warehouse. Inside, they recovered more
than 9,000 lbs. of marijuana as well as
packaging materials. A subsequent search
of another residence tied to Ramirez led
to the recovery of an additional $725,000
in cash.

All told, this joint law enforcement
investigation led to the seizure of 10,505
lbs of marijuana, and over $4.3 million
in money believed to be drug proceeds.
Ramirez, Perez, Castaneda and Toledo are
all facing charges stemming from a conspiracy
to possess with the intent to distribute
and distributing 1,000 kilograms or more
of marijuana. Castaneda and Toledo were
also identified as being illegally inside
the country.

The public is reminded that a criminal
complaint is only a charge and is not
evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed
innocent and is entitled to a fair trial
at which the government must prove guilt
beyond a reasonable doubt.